Francis Tapon: Hike Your Own Hike

Hike Your Own Hike with Francis TaponA yo-yo trip on the Continental Divide

Francis Tapon helps us learn about the Appalachian trail, adventures on the path less traveled, and how to live life with passion and purpose.

First in a series of presenters, Roam Life introduces you to Francis Tapon: ex-techie executive turned adventurer. In exploring the book, Hike Your Own Hike: 7 Life Lessons from Backpacking Across America, Francis Tapon inspired us through sharing his experience of a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail and what adventure can teach you about life. This true story combines the desire to reorient one’s life with an exciting tale of adventure with a bit of humor. Francis Tapon and Roam Life take you adventures on the path less traveled, and illustrate how to live your life with passion and purpose.

Current Project: The Unseen Africa

In March, 2013, Francis embarked on a four-year adventure to visit all 54 countries in Africa. The journey is called The Unseen Africa.

What are your goals?

Visit every country in Africa.

Film it to make a documentary / TV show about it.

Write a book about Africa’s unseen sides.

Get a tan.

What’s your general travel plan?

Follow the red line on the MAP on the right (move your mouse over the map to zoom into a section). I started in Morocco. I’ve gone through West Africa. I’m now going through Central Africa until I reach South Africa. Then I’ll travel up through East Africa, eventually traversing North Africa (making sure to hit all the countries in between).

The red line gives you a rough idea of our journey’s path. It crosses all the countries in Africa. Realistically, I will make adjustments, so don’t analyze the red line too carefully. Still, it’s been accurate so far.

I expect my real journey to be far less efficient, with lots of backtracking and circuitous ways to a destination. For example, just because the red line doesn’t go to East Angola doesn’t mean we won’t go there. The only promise is that I will try to visit every country. If I follow the red line, I’ll do just that.

In the Roam Life Presenter Series, we bring you stories about amazing people doing amazing things to help you realize your own adventure story.

“Whether your idea of adventure is going beyond the five block radius around your house, venturing over to the next town, or exploring the far flung reaches of the planet, we want to help you get there.”